The Garden at Cafe Bellino Introduces Hookah in Boca

Boca Raton- It’s a scene straight out of a documentary on life in Turkey- if Boca Raton’s young social crowd looks anything like Turkey’s. Five people sit on plush lounge furniture taking turns puffing from a Hookah pipe as the scent of strawberries fills the air around them.

“I don’t even smoke, but this stuff tastes great and doesn’t have that harsh felling cigarettes do. Plus, I don’t end up with horrible cigarette smell on my clothes,” says Stephen Kaiser between sips of a watermelon mojito. “I like that we can all sit around a hookah pipe and it sort of stimulates conversation.”

This is precisely the reason Scott Fox, owner of The Garden at Café Bellino, introduced the water filtered pipes that get stuffed with flavored tobaccos. “The Shisha Café is just next door so I approached them about the possibility of offering the hookahs here. They loved the idea and it has been a big hit with my guests ever since.”

“I am constantly looking for ways to add value to the experience at The Garden. The hookahs are great because they increase the average size of each party. People invite their friends to enjoy a communal experience and since the hookahs last for an hour or more, people stay longer. It’s been a hugely popular addition,” says Fox.

Hookah pipes work in a unique way. Flavored tobacco that has been mixed with fruit is added to a receptacle at the top of the pipe. That receptacle is then covered with aluminum foil and a small briquette is placed on top and heated up. The foil keeps the tobacco from catching fire, but the heat transfer allows the concoction to steam. As a smoker draws on the hookah’s mouthpiece, the steam is filtered through water kept in the base of the pipe. The result is a smooth, flavorful inhalation.

Guests to The Garden at Café Bellino can call ahead to make hookah reservations. They are available Wednesday through Saturday from 5pm-2am and Sunday and Tuesday from 5-10pm.
The Garden at Café Bellino is located just behind Café Bellino at 180 S. Federal Hwy. Boca Raton. There is also a private entrance to The Garden just off SE 1st street. Call 561-393-2844 for information and reservations.